In terms of average wage, Bhutan is a poor country, however the land is fertile and the population small, so the people are well fed, and beggars and homeless are nonexistent In addition, the current generation receives free education, and all citizens have access to free medical care If a patient's ailment cannot be treated in the country, then the government refers the patients to reputable hospitals abroadThe sale of tobacco products is banned foreign tourists and NGOs are exempt, though it is illegal for them to sell tobacco to locals, and smoking in public areas is a fineable offense
A unique aspect of Bhutan is that progress is not purely defined by economic achievements as in most countries, but also based on the level of cultural and environmental preservation and development This ideology was the brain child of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck who, having gained a modern education in India and the UK, realized that mere economic success did not necessarily translate into a content and happy society Consequently, soon after his coronation in 1974, the young king began to float the idea of developing a new set of guidelines by which to govern the country Slowly these ideas took shape, and in 1998 the GNH indicator was established GNH stands for "Gross National Happiness" and is defined by the following four objectives: to increase economic growth and development, preserve and promote the cultural heritage, encourage sustainable use of the environment, and establish good governance Currently, work is in progress on converting the GNH from being a mere guiding principle for the country's development into a workable set of standard indicators As a result of this more humane style of governance, Bhutan has developed high environmental protection standards the use of plastic bags, for example, is completely banned and a peaceful and harmonious society that actively protects its rich culture and profound Buddhist traditions Major sources of income for the kingdom are agriculture, tourism and hydroelectric power
Still, while Bhutan is often painted as a modern-day Shangri-La in the Western press, the country remains poor, with average life expectancy around 66 and a 72 per mil infant mortality rate The kingdom became a parliamentary democracy in March 2008 upon the command of the Fourth King
Culturally, Bhutan is predominantly Buddhist with a national language although there are regional variations - such as Sharchopkha, the predominant language in Eastern Bhutan, and a common dress code and architectural style
The official name for the country is Druk Yul - Land of the Thunder Dragon - but due to the harmonious nature of the society, it has acquired the additional nickname of Deki Druk Yul - Land of the Peaceful Thunder Dragon
The first humans probably arrived sometime after the Ice Age, and little is known about Bhutan's prehistory Historical records began with the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century, when Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava visited Bhutan and established monasteries
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs This role was assumed by independent India after 1947 Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations
In December 2006, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck transferred power to his oldest son, the Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, bestowing upon him the title of the fifth Druk Gyalpo The official coronation took place in November 2008 The fifth King is Boston and Oxford educated
|
Guru Rinpoche It is not possible to travel far in Bhutan without seeing images of a man wearing a tall elaborate hat and with eyes that are open wide and staring forward into space This is the great 8th century sage of Vajrayana Buddhism, Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche as he often called According to legend, Padmasambhava was reincarnated into a lotus blossom as an eight year old child, and from very young he possessed great wisdom and insight Furthermore, he had mastery of the elements and so like a potter manipulating basic clay and turning it into beautiful pots, he was was able to transform harmful action and substances into something positive and beneficial Guru Rinpoche's special association with Bhutan began when he traveled to the town now known as Jakar at the invitation of a local king to subjugate negative forces The mission was a success, and from this encounter Buddhism spread throughout the land A body print of the great sage exists to this day at Kurjey Lhakhang in Jakar, and he is also associated with many other sacred sites in Bhutan, with perhaps the most notable being the cliff-hanging Taktshang Monastery in Paro |
Although the country expanse is quite small Bhutanese weather varies from location to location mainly depending upon the elevation In the North of Bhutan on the borders with Tibet it is perennially covered with snow In the western, central and eastern Bhutan Ha, Paro, Thimphu, Wandue, Trongsa, Bumthang, Trashi Yangtse, Lhuntse you will mostly experience cold European-like weather Winter lasts here from November to March Punakha is an exception as it is in a lower valley and summer is pretty hot but winter is pleasant Southern Bhutan bordering with India is hot and humid with a sub-tropical climate The monsoon is the determining factor for rain here Spring and autumn are the best season to visit Bhutan There are four distinct seasons similar in their divisions to those of Western Europe The Monsoon occurs between June and August when the temperature is normally between 8° and 21°C 46°-70°F Temperatures drop dramatically with increases in altitude Days are usually very pleasant average about 10°C/50°F with clear skies and sunshine Nights are cold and require heavy woolen clothing, particularly in winter Generally, October, November and April to mid-June are the best times to visit – rainfall is at a minimum and temperatures are conducive to active days of sightseeing The foothills are also very pleasant during the winter
2010:
In addition to the above national holidays, there are also Tshechu holidays which are celebrated regionally
Common Languages
Usage
Permits are required to visit all monasteries, dzongs and sacred sites deemed of special significance These permits are issued by the Cultural Affairs Office in Thimphu
See also: Sacred sites of the Indian sub-continent
Rice is a staple with every meal Vegetable or meat dishes cooked with chili and/or cheese comprise the accompanying cuisine
Bhutanese food has one predominant flavor - chili This small red condiment is not only added to every dish but is also often eaten raw So, if you don't like spicy-hot food, make this abundantly clear before ordering a meal Otherwise, you'll be spending the next hour dousing your mouth with cold yogurt or milk
Kewa-datsi and shamu-datsi tend to be less hot that ema-datsi; all three dishes are generally served with rice
Imtrat run canteens that sell excellent Indian dishes along with tea from 930AM to 430PM The quality of the food is very good, while the price is low The canteens are located throughout the country, especially along main highways
All towns connected by motorable roads have hotels, though the standard varies considerably International standard hotels are mostly found in tourist areas or major towns, while five star accommodation is only available in Paro, Jakar, Punakha, Gangtey and Thimphu
It is important to note that the hotel rates shown on the city articles are only relevant to people who have residency, visa exemption generally this only applies to Indian nationals or who are visiting the country as an invited guest Other visitors can only enter the country as part of a tour, for which the daily rates are set by the Bhutanese authorities at around $250 per person per night irrespective of the hotel rates except for very expensive hotels where a surcharge is added
There are a few NGOs based in Bhutan, so it is possible to arrange volunteer work However, Bhutan is very selective about who it engages in this field In addition, it is highly unlikely that a position can be found while visiting Bhutan, so those interested in undertaking volunteer work here should first seek employment with NGOs overseas and then express a preference to be located in Bhutan
| Meal in inexpensive restaurant | 285 INR |
| 3-course meal in restaurant (for 2) | 588 INR |
| McDonalds meal | 165.6 INR |
| Local beer (0.5 draft) | 63.65 INR |
| Foreign beer (0.33 bottle) | 124.8 INR |
| Cappuccino | 95.77 INR |
| Pepsi/Coke (0.33 bottle) | 25.03 INR |
| Water (0.33 bottle) | 17.5 INR |
| Milk (1l) | 48.3 INR |
| Fresh bread (500g) | 19.27 INR |
| White Rice (1kg) | 35.63 INR |
| Eggs (12) | 121.22 INR |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | 379.15 INR |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 225 INR |
| Apples (1kg) | 39 INR |
| Oranges (1kg) | 49.67 INR |
| Tomato (1kg) | 38.28 INR |
| Potato (1kg) | 56.89 INR |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 10 INR |
| Water (1.5l) | 23.16 INR |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 255.9 INR |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 bottle) | 57.88 INR |
| Foreign beer (0.33 bottle) | 142 INR |
| Cigarettes | 221 INR |
| Taxi start | 331.2 INR |
| Taxi 1km | 18.73 INR |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 70.98 INR |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 13.22 INR |
